Thursday, September 26, 2024

Stari grad, (old town)

Friday, September 27, 2024

Hvar, city and island, Croatia

Palmizana Bay, Pakleni or Devil Islands

Motoring aboard such a beautiful boat along scenic Dalmatian Coast to arrive in small ports and marinas is such a lovely way to travel. Yesterday we spent most of the day in Hvar, a bustling ancient port and resort town on the Croatian island of Hvar. Yachts fill its harbor in summer and ferries and small cruise ships disgorge tourists. Tourism is clearly the primary industry and there a a plethora of cute cafes and shops selling local crafts and jewelery. Some call the island of Hvar ”The Queen of the Croatian Dalmatian islands”. It has been famous since ancient times due to its important strategic and nautical position, the rich heritage of various historical periods, the culture and natural monuments as well as literature. Towering over the town, an ancient Spanish fortress is a the reward for energetic hikers to gain excellent views of the town and bay.

We docked in a small marina near the island of for a visit to a famous restaurant, Zori’s, that serves local fish and features a stunning sunset scene of a sweet lagoon with a few boats and yachts. Dessert-like plants lined our ramble over the St. Clemens island to get to Zori’s.

Today we took a long hike over a path of lots of tricky loose rocks leading through pines and glimpses of beautiful beaches fed by crashing waves of the azure ocean. While I stumbled and tried to maneuver the rough parts of the climb, photographing the flora and fauna, our companions scampered ahead. The origin of the plentiful rocks is the tectonic limestone that comprises this island.

Local old Pilots gin was a fan favorite, especially our favorite pilot, Steve Wise.

The tectonic rock tile roof — amazing!.